The shape of a potato chip closely resembles the structure of the Universe.
It is a hyperbolic paraboloid, or in other words, a saddle. This form of nature, which astrophysicists consider to be also the one adopted by the Universe, minimizes the deformation of the potato when, due to temperature changes in the pan, it is subjected to stress.
Potatoes should be kept in a cool, dry and dark place for chemical reasons.
In the presence of light, solanine is formed in potatoes, a bitter and toxic alkaloid that the potato uses as a fungicide and pesticide to protect itself, but which ingested by man in high concentrations can be lethal. Solanine biosynthesis occurs parallel to chlorophyll synthesis, so it is recommended not to eat the green areas of the potato. It is also interesting to know that some varieties of the tuber contain a pigment called anthoxanthin that reacts with the iron in kitchen utensils. Therefore, to prevent the potatoes from turning black, it is advisable to use stainless steel knives.
Roasted, they fight hypertension.
Despite their bad reputation, potatoes should not be removed from the ingredients of a healthy diet on the grounds that they “lack nutritional value.” In contrast, a potato has only 110 calories and dozens of phytochemicals and vitamins, according to Joe Vinson of the University of Scranton (USA), who recommends cooking them roasted so they do not lose their properties. Furthermore, Vinson and his colleagues showed, in a study published inJournal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, that in obese or overweight people, purple potatoes (also known as Chinese truffles) lower blood pressure thanks to their abundant antioxidants.
